Chapter 126: An Unexplained Sense of Familiarity

The crowd below fell silent, and the air suddenly grew deathly still.

Gasping for breath, they broke out in cold sweats. What kind of terrifying monster was this? Mang Yu was considered a peerless genius in their hearts, yet he hadn't even lasted a single round against this man. Worse, he had been beaten into a state worse than a stray dog—it was a truly wretched sight.

Mang Yu’s body lay slumped on the ground, and not a soul dared to approach him. In truth, no one dared to move at all, as if even the slightest twitch would invite a beating.

Standing alone on the arena stage was Mang Shui. He trembled, feeling exposed and conspicuous as the only one left standing. Suddenly, a voice called out from below: "Senior Brother Mang Shui, it’s your turn! Quickly, avenge Senior Brother Mang Yu!"

The moment the voice spoke, the speaker vanished into the crowd.

Mang Shui felt as though he had been sold out. A shiver ran through his entire body, and he glared down at the crowd, wishing he could kill the person who had betrayed him. *Damn it, you want me to fight him? Aren't you just sending me to my death?* But with so many people watching, how could he, a proud genius of the Python Clan, refuse? He desperately wanted to stay put, but one look at the bloodied, broken form of Mang Yu made his face drain of all color.

Qian Mo watched the spectacle with amusement, thinking how much the person who betrayed Mang Shui must have hated him.

"Alright, who is next? Oh? You seem to be the most eye-catching one down there. Mang Shui, was it? Come up here, and I will teach you a lesson," Qian Mo said, smiling with a dashing air.

Upon being singled out, Mang Shui felt his heart sink. A chilling sensation washed over him, and he felt like dying.

Qian Mo frowned and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Get up here! Don't waste my time. I’m here to rob you, not to play house!"

Mang Shui closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. *Damn it, do or die! I can't let them look down on me. I am a genius; how can I be a coward? Charge!* Despite these thoughts, his legs couldn't stop shaking.

Seeing this, Qian Mo reached out a hand. "Not coming up? Then I'll help you." An invisible giant hand lunged toward Mang Shui. The trembling man was suddenly hoisted into the air by an unseen force. His face turned pale; he knew what was coming, but he was powerless to resist. With a flick, the giant hand tossed him onto the stage.

"Ahhh!" Mang Shui screamed in terror.

Watching the shivering man, Qian Mo sighed in disappointment. He was even worse than Mang Yu; this guy was an utter coward.

"I’ll give you three choices," Qian Mo said coldly. "First, fight me. Second, give me your ring, and you stay safe. Third, I beat you up. Choose."

Mang Shui felt his terror mount. How was he supposed to choose? The first and third options were the same—he would definitely be beaten to a pulp. This was clearly forcing him to choose the second. *Right, he’s just here to rob me. If I cooperate, I should be fine.* A thought began to take root: wealth was external, but life was precious. What was the point of money if you were dead?

*Yes, give him the ring and I’ll be fine. If I become stronger later, I can just take it back. Yes, that’s the plan.*

Mang Shui comforted himself, his voice trembling as he said, "M-Master, I choose the second option."

Qian Mo smiled. "Good. You’re a sensible one. I’ll keep it safe for you." Mang Shui handed over his storage ring, which Qian Mo took with a smile and tucked away.

Qian Mo then addressed the crowd below. "Don't think that your 'genius' handing over his ring is an act of cowardice. On the contrary, it is a very wise choice. Between profit and life, survival comes first. If any of you think he is wrong, step forward, and I’ll deal with you personally."

The crowd fell into a deathly silence.

Hearing this, Mang Shui felt his sense of shame diminish, and he even felt a strange gratitude toward Qian Mo for speaking up for him.

"Well? Are we still fighting? If not, hand over your rings obediently. And don't try to hide anything—the consequences will be severe!" Qian Mo smiled, but the crowd no longer saw it as a smile; it was the grin of a demon.

One by one, they complied. Qian Mo collected the rings, transferred the treasures into his own, and tossed the worthless ones back. "I am a kind man, so I won’t take your rings, just what’s inside!" He then flicked a finger, using an invisible force to pull Mang Yu’s ring from his unconscious body. After a quick sweep of the valuables, he tossed the ring aside.

"Heh, thank you all for your cooperation. My principle is to rob but not to kill, so don’t worry." Qian Mo paused, then added, "Oh, and do you want to know why your patriarch and elders haven't come to stop me? It's because..." He snapped his fingers, and a group of people fell from the void onto the ground.

"Elders!" the crowd cried out. Mang Shui’s eyes widened; it turned out the elders had already been robbed.

"Ahem." Qian Mo coughed lightly, and the crowd went silent. If even the patriarch and elders had been robbed and beaten to this state, what chance did they have?

"One more thing," Qian Mo said calmly. "Your current patriarch is actually a usurper. Your former patriarch is not dead; he was framed and bound by these people."

The revelation shook them to their core.

"What... so the former patriarch is still alive? I knew there was a conspiracy, but I was too weak to expose it," Mang Shui muttered to himself, deciding that a man like Qian Mo had no reason to lie to them.

"Wait here. If anyone touches them before I return, you’re dead. I’m going to go fetch your former leader." With that, Qian Mo tore through the void and vanished, leaving the crowd in a daze.

...

In the deepest part of the forest, at the Python Clan's lair, there was a cave containing a small, circular well. A crack in space appeared, and Qian Mo stepped out.

"This should be it. The previous Python Clan leader... what was his name? I forgot." Qian Mo tossed a stone into the well. "Is anyone down there?"

Below the spring water, a man in tattered clothes was bound to a cross. This was the true patriarch, Mang Tianlong. Weak and barely conscious, he heard the voice. Thinking it was a hallucination, he was stunned when he realized it was real. "Yes! Someone! Help me! Save me!"

Qian Mo smiled and tore open the void, appearing directly in front of the man.

"Who... who are you?" the man asked, his voice raspy as he stared at the man in white who had emerged from the spatial rift. His pupils constricted; this was a powerhouse!

"The one who is here to save you," Qian Mo said calmly, then asked, "Who are you?"

"I am... the Python Clan patriarch, Mang Tianlong," he replied weakly.

"So your name is Mang Tianlong," Qian Mo murmured.

"Does your Excellency know me?"

Qian Mo shook his head. "No. First time meeting."

"..."

"I'm here to rob people. I just robbed your clan, and I told them you were still alive, so I'm bringing you back. I’m a man of my word."

*What? My clan was robbed? This man is a robber?* Mang Tianlong thought he had misheard.

"Your Excellency, as long as you save me, I am willing to give you my storage ring!" Mang Tianlong couldn't let this hope slip away.

"What if there's nothing good in your ring?" Qian Mo asked bluntly.

"Your Excellency, I am not that kind of person!" Mang Tianlong insisted fervently.

"Fine. I accept this deal," Qian Mo nodded, thinking that a patriarch’s treasure must be substantial.

Mang Tianlong’s eyes lit up with excitement. He was finally going to get out.

Qian Mo observed the cross. "Isn't this just a useless cross? Why can't you break free yourself?"

Mang Tianlong felt a surge of frustration. "I’ve tried! But this cross has a seal on it; it’s too powerful for me to break."

"Powerful? Anything is but an ant in my eyes. Break!" Qian Mo flicked his finger, and the seal shattered instantly.

"This... this..." Mang Tianlong was stunned. Such a powerful seal, gone just like that?

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you above!" Qian Mo said, vanishing.

"A true almighty being!" Mang Tianlong exclaimed. "Second brother, Elders, just you wait! You dared to frame me—I will have your heads!" Fueled by murderous rage, he exerted his strength, shattered his bindings, and surged upward in a massive whirlwind of water.

"Haha! I, Mang Tianlong, have returned! Those who framed me, wait for your end!" he roared, his cultivation at the peak of the Seven-Star Dou Sheng level!

"Alright, enough shouting. I saved you, so hand over the ring. I’m a robber, remember?" Qian Mo tapped him on the shoulder and held out his hand.

"Heh, your Excellency, I was just excited..." He handed over his ring. Qian Mo took it, transferred the treasures, and tossed the ring back. "There, I’ve taken what I wanted. The rest is yours."

Mang Tianlong scanned the contents and felt a pang of heartache, but it was better than nothing. "Thank you for the rescue, your Excellency."

"Don't thank me. It was a transaction. Now, hurry back. I’m leaving." Qian Mo waved a hand.

"Would your Excellency like to visit my clan?"

"Nothing to see. I’ve already robbed what I needed. Don't worry, I didn't raid your treasury. Farewell." Qian Mo added, "Oh, and remember my name: Qian Mo, Palace Master of the Samsara Palace! And I have nothing to do with the Hall of Souls." With that, he departed.

"Samsara Palace? Palace Master? What kind of strength does this man have? Could he be a Nine-Star peak Dou Sheng?!" Mang Tianlong shook his head. He had to go back and kill those who had betrayed him.

...

High above, Qian Mo flew slowly, pondering where to go next. "A good haul from the Python Clan. Especially the patriarch's and elders'."

He couldn't think of a destination, so he simply tore open the void and decided to go wherever the path led. Inside the spatial tunnel, it was pitch black. Suddenly, thunder rumbled.

"What is this? Thunder in the void? That doesn't usually happen..." Qian Mo sensed something and scanned the area with his spiritual sense. "Come out!"

He reached out and dragged a figure hiding in the void toward him. "How is this possible!" the figure screamed.

Qian Mo scanned his cultivation and was surprised: a half-step peak Dou Di!

"Speak. Who are you, and why are you in my void?"

"Wait, don't be so rough, you're hurting me!" the man cried out. "I am Ling, an ancient half-step peak Dou Di!"

"Ancient? Ling?" Qian Mo wasn't impressed. "Oh, I see."

"What do you mean, 'Oh, I see'? I am here to find someone to fight! Everyone outside is too weak. I found you by chance, and I want a duel!"

"You're just a half-step peak Dou Di, not a true Dou Di. Don't go around calling yourself 'Emperor'—you aren't qualified. You're too weak; a wave of my hand and you'd be finished." Qian Mo shook his head.

Ling was furious. He was an ancient powerhouse, yet he was being looked down upon by this young man! "Oh, you're arrogant, aren't you? I'm not happy! Take this!" He launched an attack: "Ancient Ling Annihilation!"

"That's a strong move," Qian Mo noted.

"Hmph, obviously!" Ling said proudly.

"But that's all it is," Qian Mo added, crushing his spirit.

"Damn you!" Ling attacked again.

"Hand of the Mo Emperor!" Qian Mo extended a hand, and a massive golden palm print materialized in the void. Ling’s attack was instantly extinguished, and he was swatted down.

"Damn, Ancient Emperor Armor!" Ling summoned his defensive gear, but it shattered under the weight of the palm. "Ah!"

Qian Mo ignored him. He was too weak; even someone like Xu Kun would have swatted him down easily. "Come back when you’re stronger!" Qian Mo tossed him into the distance.

"Damn you! Next time I find you, I'll beat you up!" Ling’s voice faded away.

"Boring. Robbery is much more fun." Qian Mo hadn't killed him because he sensed no true killing intent, only a desire for a friendly spar.

A flash of light appeared, and Qian Mo stepped out of the void. He found himself on a mountain. "Eh, why am I on a mountain?" He looked around, perplexed. "Oh, there’s a town over there. Let’s go take a look." He conjured a horse out of Dou Qi and rode down the mountain. "Giddy up!"

A Dou Di riding a horse—a rare sight indeed. He arrived at the town and landed gracefully. It was a desolate area, yet this town was quite large. As he walked through the crowd, he wondered what kind of bizarre place he had ended up with.

"The Imperial Princess is here!" a voice shouted.

Qian Mo turned to see a palanquin being carried forward. The people on the roadside knelt down. "Greetings, Imperial Princess!"

*Imperial Princess? Kneeling? Did I travel back to ancient times?* Qian Mo stood tall while everyone else knelt, which naturally drew attention.

A guard pointed at him. "The Imperial Princess has arrived! Why do you not kneel?"

*Kneel? I’ll kneel to your mother,* Qian Mo thought. A Nine-Star peak Dou Di kneeling to an ant? What a joke. "If you point that finger at me again, you won't have a hand left," Qian Mo said flatly.

"Asshole, you dare threaten me? Men, kill him!" The guard shouted, and a group of people rose into the air—all of them Dou Shengs!

*What? All of them are Dou Shengs? What kind of place is this?* Qian Mo was genuinely surprised.

"Boy, offending the Imperial Princess is a capital crime! Take this, Judgment!"

Inside the palanquin, a veiled woman peeked out. Her heart skipped a beat. *How is it him?*

"Mother, Mother, what's wrong?" a little girl’s voice asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all," the woman replied, unsettled.

Qian Mo looked at these ants. "Offending me means death."

"How arrogant! Take this!" Countless attacks descended upon him.

Qian Mo flicked his hand. "Break." The attacks vanished instantly.

"What?!" The crowd gasped.

"Protect the Princess! He’s a powerful enemy!" a guard shouted.

"Useless. You’re all too weak," Qian Mo said. He found their sheer numbers interesting. "Wind Blade Shred!" He flicked his fingers, and an invisible sword intent cut through them. Defense was useless.

"Ahhh!" The screams were agonizing.

The veiled woman realized their situation was dire. She knew he was strong, but she hadn't expected this. Her family's Dou Shengs couldn't survive a single strike. "Daughter, stay here. Do not come out, do not make a sound," she instructed.

"I understand, Mother."

"Stop!" the veiled woman shouted, stepping out of the palanquin. She was the only one who could save them.

Qian Mo looked at the woman. She felt familiar, but he couldn't place her. "You are the Imperial Princess? You want me to kneel to you? Are you worthy?"

He stopped the wind blades, and the guards fell to the ground, covered in blood and pale with pain.

"I am the Imperial Princess, but that is just a title," she said.

"Listen up!" Qian Mo roared. "I am here to rob you! If you cooperate, I won't kill you! Otherwise, you die!" His killing intent was so intense that they trembled.

"Princess, go back! He’s dangerous!" a guard cried.

"Hand over your valuables!" Qian Mo snapped his fingers, and their storage rings flew into his hand.

"My ring! You devil!"

"Hmph, ants. I’ll keep these for you," Qian Mo said. He then turned to the woman. "You haven't answered me. You wanted me to kneel? Are you worthy?" He reached out and grabbed her by the throat.

"Princess!" the guards screamed.

"Stop, don't come any closer!" the woman shouted.

The little girl, hearing the commotion, peeked out and saw her mother being grabbed. "Mother!" she ran out, hitting Qian Mo’s leg.

Qian Mo felt a strange jolt in his heart. He let go. "Fine, I'll release your mother."

"Princess, run!"

"Shut up! One more word and I’ll wipe you all out!" Qian Mo released his Nine-Star peak Dou Di aura, pressing down on the Dou Shengs. They turned blue and broke into a cold sweat.

The veiled woman pleaded, "I beg you, don't kill them. They were just following orders."

"What right do you have to negotiate with me?" Qian Mo snapped.

He looked at the crying little girl still clutching his pants. His angry expression softened.